A Season of Records
Landon Hairston, the Arizona State outfielder who dominated the 2026 college baseball season, was recently crowned Division I National Player of the Year by Just Baseball. His performance was highlighted by a .860 slugging percentage that topped the nation and a school‑record 28 home runs, a milestone that has already entered the program’s history books.
Beyond the long balls, Hairston ranked among the leaders in several key offensive categories: he amassed 202 total bases, scored 82 runs, drove in 81 runs, and collected 94 hits. Those numbers placed him second in total bases, third in runs, fifth in both RBI and home runs, and seventh in hits across the entire Division I landscape.
National Award Finalists
The accolades did not stop there. Hairston is also a finalist for the 48th Golden Spikes Award, which will be presented on June 29, and for the Dick Howser Trophy, to be unveiled on June 12. The other Golden Spikes finalists include Roch Cholowsky and Daniel Jackson, while the Dick Howser race also features Mason Edwards of USC, Anthony Pack of Texas, and James Ramsey of Georgia Tech.
Earlier this month, Hairston added another honor when he was named Big 12 Player of the Year, a testament to his consistent impact within the conference. His achievements have been celebrated not only by teammates and coaches but also by national outlets that have highlighted his influence on the sport.
The recognition extends to the institutions and platforms that cover college baseball. Just Baseball, the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, and MLB Network have all spotlighted Hairston’s season, underscoring the broader narrative of a new generation of talent reshaping the game.
As the award ceremonies approach, the baseball community anticipates further celebrations of Hairston’s contributions, a narrative that reflects both individual excellence and the growing visibility of collegiate baseball across the United States.